# academy

/əˈkædəmi/ (US) · /ɐkˈædəmi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/academy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. specialized school

noun · CEFR B2

a school or college that teaches a specific subject or skill, like music, sports, or military training.

For teachers: An institution providing specialized training in a particular art, profession, or field of study.

- She was accepted into the royal music academy to study the violin.
- The police academy requires all recruits to undergo rigorous physical training and legal examinations before they can serve on the force.

### 2. learned society

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a group of famous experts who work together to protect or improve arts, science, or language.

For teachers: A society of scholars, artists, or scientists dedicated to the advancement of a specific field of knowledge.

- The French Academy is famous for protecting the purity of the French language.
- Election to the national academy of sciences is considered one of the highest honors a researcher can achieve in their career.

### 3. UK state school

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

in the UK, a school that gets money directly from the government instead of the local council.

For teachers: In the United Kingdom, a state-funded school that is independent of local authority control and has more freedom over its curriculum.

- The local high school became an academy last year to get more funding.
- The government's plan to convert all failing schools into academies met with significant resistance from local teaching unions.

### 4. Plato's school

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Literary

the school started by the philosopher Plato in ancient Greece.

For teachers: The school of philosophy founded by Plato in Athens, or the garden where he taught his disciples.

- Students in the ancient Academy studied mathematics and philosophy under Plato.
- The influence of the original Academy persisted for centuries, shaping the development of Western metaphysical thought.

### 5. academia

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the world of universities, research, and serious study.

For teachers: The collective environment or community of higher education and research; often used interchangeably with 'academia'.

- After years in the academy, the professor decided to work for a private company.
- Critics argue that the academy has become too detached from the practical needs of the modern workforce.

## Examples

- She applied to the local police academy.
- The research was published in a journal that is highly respected within the academy.
- While the military academy focuses on discipline and tactical training, the national academy of sciences promotes rigorous peer-reviewed research and policy advice.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.